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Wednesday, November 4, 2026

South Carolina topped 2018 turnout; Simpsonville voted on a penny tax

Plus, "Little Women" opens in Mauldin Friday and a new automation center celebrates its grand opening today.

The 5AM Simpsonville team1 story12 sources3 min read

ElectionTop story

South Carolina topped its 2018 turnout before polls closed, and Simpsonville voted on a penny tax

Turnout stood at 52.3% against the 54.6% record

52.3%Registered voters who had voted by 4:30 p.m. Tuesday

Source: FOX Carolina News

View as table
Value
Registered voters who had voted by 4:30 p.m. Tuesday52.3%
All-time record, set in 200254.6%

If you voted Tuesday, you were part of a big crowd. By 4:30 p.m., 1,797,335 South Carolinians had cast ballots, or 52.3% of registered voters, with polls open until 7 p.m. That passed the 2018 gubernatorial high of 1,726,527.

Early voting set the pace. The state's 12 days of early voting drew 1,043,810 ballots, which the Election Commission said is more than in 2022 but below the 1,471,663 early ballots of 2024.

  • Greenville County early votes: 104,608, the most in the state
  • Charleston County: 99,275. Richland County: 92,575
  • 2022 midterm early ballots: 561,563

Early voting passed 2022 but trailed 2024

Sources: Greenville Journal, Tega Cay Sun

View as table
Value
2022 midterm561.6K
2024 election1.5M
2026 midterm1M

If you live in Greenville County or one of the cities of Greenville, Mauldin, Simpsonville and Travelers Rest, your ballot carried a question: whether to implement a one-cent sales tax. WYFF is posting results for the penny sales tax question and other Upstate referendums.

Asked

Tap an answer to see how Simpsonville answered.

Asked

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News Notes

Theater

Mauldin Theatre Company's "Little Women: The Musical" runs Nov. 6-22 at the . It trades the company's usual big, dazzling musical spectacle for a warm, family-focused show. Greenville Journal

Nightlife

Coupe's Corner Lounge in Mauldin is open Wednesdays through Sundays starting at 6 p.m. It's the second location for the bar that opened on Augusta Street in downtown Greenville's West End in December 2023. Post and Courier

Students

The GE Vernova Foundation launched Engineers of Change in Greenville on Mon., Nov. 2, with the first students starting this fall. The three-year, $4.5 million program aims to reach 3,000 Greenville-area middle and high school students. Clemson University partners joined the launch event. Greenville Business Magazineupstate business journal

Business

JR Automation, a Hitachi Group company, celebrates the grand opening of its new Automation Technology Center in Greenville today, Nov. 4. The company has invested approximately $15.5 million in the facility, which totals more than 215,000 square feet. Greenville Business Magazine

Most of JR Automation's new center is automation build space

Source: Greenville Business Magazine

View as table
AmountShare
Automation build space186.8K sq. ft.86.6%
Office and breakroom space28,996 sq. ft.13.4%

Home

Two home kitchen upgrades under $24 while sales last: super-absorbent dish towels that come in an eight-pack and include a hanging loop, and a water-absorbing stone sponge holder that’s minimalist, compact, and keeps counters and sponges dry with natural diatomite stone.

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Asked

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.

— Jack London

Things to Do

Things to Do

Simpsonville, SC

Wednesday, Nov. 4

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Around the Block

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Recommendations

Alterations needed in Simpsonville to hem jeans.

“Isabella's is no longer in business, any recommendations for alterations. Possibly a jacket as well. TIA. #alterations”

— A neighbor, Poinsettia

2 likes · 9 comments

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The Wrap

Hiccup and Toothless are headed to the Peace Center. The Greenville Symphony will play the full orchestral soundtrack live while the entire How to Train Your Dragon movie runs on screen, not just highlights from the score. Shows are Saturday, Nov. 7, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. in Peace Concert Hall. Dragons and violins, together at last.

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Every source in this edition12 links · 10 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. FOX Carolina Newsfoxcarolina.com
  3. Greenville Journalgreenvillejournal.com
  4. Tega Cay Suntegacaysun.com
  5. South Carolina Public Radiosouthcarolinapublicradio.org
  6. WYFFwyff4.com
  7. Greenville Journalgreenvillejournal.com
  8. Post and Courierpostandcourier.com
  9. Greenville Business Magazinegreenvillebusinessmag.com
  10. upstate business journalupstatebusinessjournal.com
  11. Greenville Business Magazinegreenvillebusinessmag.com
  12. Simpsonville events calendar5amsimpsonvillesc.com

Past issues

  1. Sat., Nov. 7Saturday's News Notes from Simpsonville and around South Carolina
  2. Fri., Nov. 6Connor Shaw's nonprofit and Prisma Health team up on CPR education
  3. Thurs., Nov. 5Simpsonville's 1% sales tax passes, 5,189 votes to 5,042
  4. Tues., Nov. 3Polls are open until 7 p.m. today, so bring your photo ID
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5AM Simpsonvilleto me · Wed., Nov. 46:00 a.m.

South Carolina topped 2018 turnout; Simpsonville voted on a penny tax

Plus, "Little Women" opens in Mauldin Friday and a new automation center celebrates its grand opening today.

The TLDR

  1. Turnout hit 1,797,335 by 4:30 p.m., past the 2018 high
  2. Simpsonville's ballot carried a one-cent sales tax question
  3. Mauldin's "Little Women" runs Nov. 6-22
Read this edition

More stories this week

From 5AM Simpsonville’s other editions

All the news
CommunityConnor Shaw's nonprofit teams up with Prisma Health to expand CPR educationIf you've ever wondered whether CPR and an AED really work, Connor Shaw is proof. The former South Carolina quarterback collapsed in September 2025 while coaching his son's flag football game in Simpsonville. He sat down with WIS and said, "It's kind of hard to believe I'm just over a year from my sudden cardiac arrest."Friday’s editionRead HealthThe Blood Connection unveils Bloodhound, a new bloodmobile, as the holidays nearIf you give blood, watch for a new bus. The Blood Connection unveiled a bloodmobile named Bloodhound Wednesday in downtown Greenville. A grant from the Greenville Health Authority paid for it, and the community picked the name in a vote through 6AM City.Friday’s editionRead ElectionsSimpsonville voters pass a 1% sales tax for roads, 5,189 votes to 5,042Simpsonville voters approved a 1% sales tax referendum by a 1.4% margin. Greenville County voters went the other way: 51.51% opposed the county's penny tax, the fourth failed try since 2002.Thursday’s editionRead

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